The San Diego Padres' ongoing quest for a World Series (or at least a playoff title). "You know that many runners enter a race, but only one of them wins the prize. So run to win! Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last, but we do it for a crown that will last forever." 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Your Last-Place Padres…

To my dear pathetic Padres,

Well, I really have to hand it to you guys. Everyone expected you to live in the cellar all season. You weren’t expected to do anything big, and you certainly weren’t expected to be winning. Well, you’ve finally proved them right.

You’ve hit last place for the first time this season, but you held out for almost half season. I’m proud of you guys for doing that. Sure, we’re most likely going to be down here for the rest of the season, and I really hate being down here, but hey, you guys put up quite the fight.

But guys, losing to the WORST team in the NL West, being swept by them, is just wrong. It’s hard enough writing about two losses a series, but three? That’s torture!! And look what you got for it. You got last place. I’m sure the Diamondbacks were happy to trade places with us. They’ve been sinking down here for most of the season, and now we’re in their place.

OK, so you played well enough. Sure, you had some bad breaks. But you also played some bad baseball. And please don’t let me be the first to tell you: playing bad baseball is not going to help you win. Simple as that.

Guys, if you can be swept by a team that was worse than you, how do you expect to even hope to win against a team that’s a ton better than you? Oh. I guess you don’t.

Let’s see…next up is the Giants for four games. They are second place in the NL West. We are last. Hmm. Oh, and Lincecum is pitching tonight. Just great…

Keep the faith, you say? Sure, sure. Maybe next year. It’s one thing to keep the faith when your team has a chance. But when you look at your team and know that the pieces they have won’t win, it’s another thing entirely.

You guys are pathetic. No offense to induvidual players, though. I know that this team has some stellar stars. The problem is, you guys aren’t working together as a team. Yesterday, Chad Gaudin threw 6.2 innings, allowing one run. We had a 2-0 lead. But then the bullpen came in and allowed five runs to give away the game.

I know the injuries have hit us hard. We’ve got 11 guys on the DL. Our two star starting pitchers, our Opening Day catchers, our second baseman. These injuries have been killing us. If these guys were still here, would we be winning? It’s a good question, but we just can’t dwell on the could’ves, should’ves, and would’ves. Because nothing’s going to change what’s happened.

But you know what? Most of you guys who are up here right now are here only because of the guys on the DL. You would be in the minors if these guys hadn’t gone done. You’ve got a unique opportunity here to show the Padres front office what you can do. You’re in the Majors! This has been your dream all along, what you’ve been fighting for for so many years. So why not take advantage of it?

I know it’s difficult to bond with all these new faces. But guys, if you want to win, you have to play like a team, and in order to do that, you have to get to know your teammates. I know it’s hard. Once a guy comes off the DL, one of these new faces is going to be heading out the door. It’s part of baseball. I bet you guys didn’t expect a treasured teammate like Scotty to be shipped out, just like that, but it happens and you have to move on.

For the fan’s sakes, guys, act like a team. At least pretend that you’re trying.

Guys, I hate having to do this, but when it gets to this point you really have to do it. For now, I just have to enjoy baseball as baseball. I have to forget the standings, forget the meaning of these games. I just have to enjoy this as baseball. I have to take a step back. I’ve had too much staked in these games. But now, I don’t really care what you guys do. I’ll take wins and I’ll take losses. Sure, I’ll be disappointed by a loss, and happy by a win, but you can do whatever you want. You guy might be in the cellar, but you’re not dragging me down there with you.

I’m going to be cheering for you guys. I love you guys. But at some point, I just have to declare my independence. I don’t need to be dragged down by you guys. You can continue your miserable ways, but you’re not going to bring me down.

Well, you last-place team, I’m really proud of you. Like I said before, you guys lasted this long before hitting bottom. We’ve had some great wins this year, some great winning streaks. But that’s the problem, they were only streaks. I’m proud to be a fan of the worst team in the NL West. It’s really weird, but I think I’m more proud of you guys at the bottom than I was when you were at the top. I can take ragging from other people about this pathetic team, and it’s actually pretty cool to be a fan of a really bad team. I would definitely trade this for the Dodgers’ spot any day, but hey, since we’re here, we might as well enjoy it.

Kaybee, the season is only half over. No one knows how the season will finally play out. To me it’s worrisome that the Dodgers have been in first for so long. The second half could be totally different. Don’t ever give up hope. I’m like you. I love my Dodgers no matter what place they are in.http://catlovesthedodgers.mlblogs.com

Great letter man. It’s been really frustrating for me too. I’m hoping that this will NOT be like 2008 season all over again. We still have plenty of games left. Clearly, you are a big fan like me. Don’t give up. I’m in the panic mode right now.http://hyunyoung.mlblogs.com

As somebody who weathered many a terrible year as both a Cubs fan and then as a Rays fan (worse years as a Rays fan!) I can say it isn’t that bad. Seriously! You guys have some talent on the team. A few tweaks here and there and you’ll be back fighting off the Dodgers for first place before you know it!

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